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Monday, July 23, 2012

Penguin Called and I Answered: A Review For Catalog Living At Its Most Absurd

Morning Readers,

I have a confession to make....I love to decorate...

...in my mind....never in real life.

Mostly because decorators tend to make me feel like if I attempt to place three objects in descending order on any flat surface, I'll cause my house to implode, or explode. Either or, I don't think our insurance would cover it, so I leave my walls bare and my coffee table free of decorative balls. But that's exactly why I was so happy to formally meet Gary and Elaine, the fictional characters living in everyone's favorite Pottery Barn Magazine.

Recently, the good folks at Penguin contacted me and asked if I'd like to read and review Molly Erdman's new book, Catalog Living At Its Most Absurd: Decorating Takes (Wicker) Balls. If you've never heard of Molly or her fantastically hilarious blog, "Catalog Living", it is you who have not lived, my friends.

Feel free to click over and treat yourself to one of the funniest sites you'll ever come across. I'll wait. I have to go get more coffee anyway.
Now then, I'd only a general acquaintance with "Catalog Living" before I received the book, but, after fending the twins off with one hand so I could read it in one sitting, I'm Molly's newest, bonafied, probably-start-weeping-until-she-signed-my-biscotti-if-we-ever-accidentally-hit-up-the-same-Panera type of fan. Because she may be one of the funniest women ever.

If you take the plunge and buy this book, you won't be disappointed. Follow Gary and Elaine on a tour through their luxurious home, and let their captions make it hard not to pee your pants. From living rooms to bathrooms, they'll have you wondering just why a case of lobsters would have a place in a nine-year-old's room, and exactly what six coffee cups are doing on a bed for two.

That, and how many wicker balls are enough wicker balls for any room.

So, if you love the thought of putting stacks of throw pillows in a wheelbarrow, or stationing pointless chairs in front of your bathtub, this book isn't for you. However, if any of those things confuse the hell out of you, run, don't walk, and purchase this book for your coffee table..

...or whatever you're using as a coffee table these days. I'm still a huge fan of the empty cardboard box.

(My thanks to the good folks at Penguin for sending me a copy of this wonderful book. I was not compensated for my time or opinions. I'm always happy to review a book. If you or someone you know needs a good review'n, inbox me and I'll be happy to type out my two cents..which are worth exactly the previously stated two cents.)